Taxi Driver Online

3 Jan 2008

West Norfolk taxi rules to be relaxed?

West Norfolk Council is to consider less restrictive rules for first
registrations and renewal of licences for taxis and private hire vehicles in
the borough.

It follows unrest among cabbies in Lynn over what many claim has been
the council's failure to stick to its current rules, introduced in April 2006,
and recent consultations carried out with the trade and other local
authorities.

Next Tuesday the cabinet will consider a report recommending a change in
the first registration condition from cars under one year old and less than
15,000 miles on the clock to under three years of age and less than
60,000 miles.

Further recommendations would see the council's licensing and appeals
panel able to grant first licences to vehicles over three but less than four
years old, with 50,000 miles or less, or up to two years old with more than
60,000 miles but less than 70,000 miles, if they were considered
exceptional examples.

Factors the panel would take into consideration in determining a case to be
exceptional would include:

* Condition of bodywork (no dents, scratches, stone chips or rust around
wheel arches);

Original manufacturer's colour and trim combination;

* Clean and immaculate interior, in original condition, free of damage and
with only minor wear and tear;

Full main dealer service history, showing regular service dates;

* Full documentation (garage receipts showing schedule of works carried
out).

The report recommends applications to renew hackney carriage and
private hire vehicle licences should only be granted up to the tenth
anniversary of the first vehicle registration, unless the vehicle is in
exceptional condition – with similar factors applying.

A new condition recommended would see no taxis or private hire cars
given first registration or being relicensed unless they have passed an
inspection at one of the borough council's approved testing stations.

And vehicles five years old or more would have to undergo a similar
inspection at an approved testing station every six months.

The report says the recommended change in first registration recognises
that most vehicle makers give up to three years and 60,000 miles
warranty, the MoT test only applies to vehicles over three years old and
three years is in line with many other local authorities.

"Therefore a vehicle that is up to three years of age and under 60,000
miles will normally be in a safe and sound condition and would not
represent a danger to the public to be used as either a hackney carriage
or for private hire," it says.

At present, there are 94 hackney carriages and 169 private hire vehicles
licensed with the borough council. Of the 33 local authorities who
responded, about half had no age or mileage policy.

Source: Lynn News